THOUSANDS of pounds has been given to aid village schemes near Scarborough.

Latest schemes to get approval from Scarborough Borough Council's central rural committee include £1,500 towards a play area at Snainton, £500 for a feasibility study at Barrowcliffe Play Centre, £1,500 towards a £40,000 playground for toddlers at East and West Ayton, and £300 to renovate a centuries-old cattle pound at Hutton Buscel.

In addition, the scattered community of Langdale End is getting £1,500 towards new windows for the village institute, a war-time Army hut, and Scarborough Mere Angling Club will get £1,000 to improve the Mere Lake.

In the past year the committee has given more than £12,000 in grants to villages.